Strathyre villagers have been left devastated after failing to stop a mast being put up on a prominent site there.

In a split decision, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planning and access committee voted on last week to approve planning permission for the 13.5 metre high Smart Meter mast in Main Street.

Residents felt the mast, proposed by telecommunications firm Arqiva, would be close to residential property and on a pathway shared by the Sustrans Cycle Network and award winning BLiSStrail art project.

The mast is part of Arqiva’s planned Smart Meter network, being created as part of the Government’s initiative to roll out smart electricity and gas meters to homes and small businesses across Great Britain between 2014 and 2020.

The community had submitted a petition signed by 114 residents and made numerous objections to the proposal which had also been rejected by Strathyre Community Council.

At the committee, Evelyn Tweed, SNP Councillor for Trossachs and Teith, gave a presentation on behalf of villager Jim Heron, the person said to be most affected by the proposal, and the wider community.

This outlined planning concerns over the effect on visual amenity by the mast and questioned whether all potential sites for the mast had been exhausted.

Councillor Tweed said later: “I really feel for the community. They worked so hard to make sure the mast was re-sited and had strong planning objections and a potential solution which they feel have fallen on deaf ears.

“The community was not against a smart meter mast and this was made clear. Strathyre is a progressive village and did not want to limit new technology. All villagers wanted was the mast to be sited in a more sensible location.

“If the committee had agreed to refuse the application and consider other sites, it would have been a win-win for the community and the National Park. As it is, villagers feel the National Park has failed them and their wishes were ignored.”

Mr Heron said: “I feel really let down by the National Park. This mast is right outside my house and on a major tourist path. It will be the highest point and very visible within the village.

“I do not understand how this decision could have been made when there was the opportunity to move it to a much better location. It feels that the National Park and the mast provider Arqiva have run roughshod over our wishes. It beggars belief.”

Strathyre resident Kenny Higgins, a consultant with Digital Scotland, added: “Strathyre has achieved a great deal in recent years working tirelessly to return the village to its former famous tagline of ‘Bonny Strathyre’. Digital Scotland are working on a Digital Tourism Strategy for Scotland and their ‘Smart Village’ initiative is all about rural and tourism development with Strathyre being used as a working example for other communities to learn about and benefit from.

“The decision to place this mast in the heart of the village and double award winning #Blisstrail, so popular with cyclists and hikers visiting the Village, is detrimental to the scenic tourism appeal of the village, let alone the inconvenience caused to residents trying to access their village hall.

“An alternative site was available but the National Park planning team failed to see the common sense in considering this. They clearly also failed to consider the incredible upset their decision has caused not only to Strathyre residents but to surrounding villages that make use of the #BlissTrail.

“The alternative site remains an option that no one would object to should the applicant be willing to reconsider and work with the community.”

A spokesperson from Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority said: “The decision was deferred from the October committee meeting after requests from members of the community to be able to have time to prepare to speak about their concerns at the meeting.

“The strength of feeling surrounding this application was recognised and a number of representations were made against the proposals with two speakers outlining the concerns at the meeting. These were discussed by the committee member however, following a vote, it was concluded by majority that the location and design of the mast and cabinets would not have a significant adverse visual impact on the area and the application was approved.

“The proposed site already has existing structures including two BT cabinets, a road sign and a lamppost so the preference was to site the mast where infrastructure of this type is already in place rather than outside the village where the visual impact would be greater on the wider landscape.

“The mast and cabinets will also be set back from the pavement on the grass embankment and will be finished in appropriate colours to tie in with the streetscape and backdrop of trees.”

In a supporting statement to park planners, Arqiva had said the site was needed to provide localised coverage over “very specific areas” and that the site provided “the best balance between operational and environmental considerations”.

They added: “The use of an innovatively designed slim structure will ensure it appears similar to other street furniture commonly found within the street scene.”